Chapter 7 Summary

One of Carlos' neighbors, Gerardo Aulet is a nickel mine magnate. Aulet has turned his gardens into a zoo. There is a lion, a tiger, a panther, and a chimp. There are also birds, including a mynah bird that swears profusely. The chimp's name is Blackie, and Carlos and his cohorts taunt him mercilessly. Blackie lives in a tree house to which he is chained. One time Blackie escapes and finds Carlos when the boys are playing hide and seek in the Aulets' gardens. He hugs Carlos' legs and bites him in the behind.

Carlos remembers the pain of the hydrogen peroxide and the shame of having to pull his pants down in front of everyone, but he does not remember who recaptured Blackie. Carlos never taunts Blackie after that, and so it seems that Blackie gets his revenge. Blackie does escape time and time again after...